Peace operations are increasingly on the front line in the international community's fight against organized crime; this book explores how, in some cases, peace operations and organized crime are clear enemies, while in others, they may become tacit allies.

Peace operations are increasingly on the front line in the international community's fight against organized crime; this book explores how, in some cases, peace operations and organized crime are clear enemies, while in others, they may become tacit allies. The threat posed by organized crime to international and human security has become a matter of considerable strategic concern for national and international decision-makers, so it is somewhat surprising how little thought has been devoted to addressing the complex relationship between organized crime and peace operations. This volume addresses this gap, questioning the emerging orthodoxy that portrays organized crime as an external threat to the liberal peace championed by western and allied states and delivered through peace operations. Based upon a series of case studies it concludes that organized crime is both a potential enemy and a potential ally of peace operations, and it argues for the need to distinguish between strategies to contain organized crime and strategies to transform the political economies in which it flourishes. The editors argue for the development of intelligent, transnational, and transitional law enforcement that can make the most of organized crime as a potential ally for transforming political economies, while at the same time containing the threat it presents as an enemy to building effective and responsible states. The book will be of great interest to students of peacebuilding, peace and conflict studies, organised crime, Security Studies and IR in general.

"The book will be of great interest to students and scholars of peacebuilding, peace and security studies. Thanks to its accuracy and the numerous case studies built on a solid theoretical framework, it is a valuable tool for both academics and policymakers." Lorenzo Vai, The International Spectator, Vol. 47, No. 4, December 2012 'This book makes a challenging contribution to peacekeeping and peacebuilding methodology. It successfully treads a delicate line that does not endorse colluding with organised criminal groups - rather the books discussion recognises their existence and influence as a reality in conflict settings. Those involved in planning and providing peacekeeping and peacebuilding need to acknowledge the reality of organised crime and develop ways of working that includes interacting with such entities if this will contribute to improvements in the security and well-being of ordinary people. This book presents invaluable learning and guidance that will help them to do so more effectively.'-Richard Slade -Coventry University, JCTS